Stock Photo - Popocatepetl is an active volcano and, at 5,426 m 17,802 ft, the second highest peak in Mexico after the Pico de Orizaba 5,636 m/18,491 ft Popocatepetl is linked to the Iztaccihuatl volcano to the north by the high saddle known as the Paso de Cortés, and lies in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt Popocatepetl is 70 km 43 mi southeast of Mexico City, from where it can be seen regularly, depending on atmospheric conditions The residents of Puebla, a mere 40 km 25 mi east of the volcano, enjoy the views of the snowy and glacier-clad mountain almost all year long The volcano is also one of the three tall peaks in Mexico to contain glaciers, the others being Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba Magma erupted from Popocatepetl is a mixture of dacite and basaltic andesite The name Popocatepetl comes from the Nahuatl words popoca ´it smokes´ and tepetl ´mountain´, thus Smoking Mountain.